'Love Actually' is All Around!

The 2003 modern romantic comedy Love Actually was a surprise hit to many, including myself. The trailer for the movie made it seem a bit confusing, as the story follows about 7 different plot lines. However, the way they interweave and connect ends up being movie magic.

It's a British comedy about, you guessed it, love! It focuses on the choices we make and how they effect every aspect of our lives.

The movie stars Colin Firth, Bill Nighy, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson, and more (just to name a few).

It takes place around the holidays, and is especially fun to watch around Christmas time! So.. when it's cold out, curl up with a blanket and some hot chocolate, and watch Love Actually. You'll be inspired that love still conquers all, even in this day in age.

For memorable quotes from the movie, click here!

An 'Incredible' Animated Movie

Speaking of superheroes, one film that easily comes to mind at the top is The Incredibles. Betcha didn't think I was going to say that, huh?

This hilarious animated comedy took the world by surprise in 2004 with its wit and charm.

Although this is an animated film, it deals with a lot of real issues such as identity, body image, power struggles, etc.

The movie is directed by Brad Bird, who also directed Iron Giant, and Ratatouille.

The film is about a family of superheroes who are trying to deny their powers to live a normal life. However, it's not "normal" at all. Once they embrace their powers, they feel comfortable in their own skin, and able to live in what would be "normal" for them.

The characters are believable and likeable, each one having their own unique traits. Everyone has someone in the movie to relate to.

Check it out if you're looking for a movie to put you in a good mood.

View the trailer here!

Not Just Another Superhero Movie

Lately it seems as if every other movie to hit the theaters is a superhero flick.  Most people are growing a little sick of it.  Between the Spiderman series, The Hulk, Iron Man, Superman, and so many other (sub-par) superhero films, it's getting old.

However, one film that sticks out to me within this category is Batman Begins.  Mainly because Bruce Wayne is not only a superhero, he's a hero.  He is respectable, dignified, and not to mention, quite handsome.

Bruce Wayne is played by (in my opinion) one of the best actors of the era, Christian Bale. 

Although Bale has been around for two decades, to many viewers he is still up-and-coming.  I think that Bale is just now coming into his own, after a random group of films such as Newsies, Swing Kids, Little Women, American Psycho, etc.  

Batman helped Bale to show his acting chops in an entirely new light.  He plays an amazing hero, who not only learns how to save others, but also to save his soul from dying.  

I loved this film.  It is not only a great superhero movie, but a great movie in general with excellent life lessons.

I can not wait for the release of the sequel The Dark Knight which will be released on July 18th of this year.  This movie is also highly anticipated due to the fact that it also stars Heath Ledger, who passed away earlier this year.  Because of that, the film is sure to become a cult classic.

To find out more on The Dark Knight, click here

To watch the hair-raising trailer, click here!

Not Feeling 'The Happening'

M. Night Shyamalan's 2008 suspense thriller, The Happening, hit theatres on Friday, failing to hit the mark. As we know, Shyamalan is responsible for such hits as The Sixth Sense, Signs, and Unbreakable.

He has been recognized as a master storyteller due to these hits.  However, his latest films The Village, Lady in the Water, and now The Happening have not received critical acclaim, and are henceforth working at stripping away his title.

In this movie, the world is under attack by an airborne natural disaster which paralyzes the human body by attacking the neuroses, and causes each human it infects to kill themselves.  

The movie starts out with a bang.  People are dying. Falling from the sky. Shooting themselves. You name it, it happened.  It has an eery feel to it, and immediately draws the viewer in.  However, the magic is soon lost as the movie gets corny.

The majority of the actors were not up to par.  Other than the main star Elliot (Mark Wahlberg), the film was carried out by amateurs.  Elliot's wife Alma (Zooey Deschanel) gives a lackluster performance, coming off as cold and unapproachable.  It is hard to see that Elliot (a warm and caring sentimental man) would have fallen for her. And that he would still be trying to make things work.

Characters drop like flies in this film.  As soon as we start to get to know something about them, boom. They're dead.

My main annoyance with this film is that it felt like it never took off.  Okay, there was a disaster.  Everyone keeps dying. Elliot, Alma, and child run away. Scary things happen, they almost die, and then the scene cuts and all of the sudden they're back home again? I'm sorry, that's not how things work.

This film had no closure, or recap for that matter.  It is unclear to the viewer what happened between the adventure of escaping the attack, and the way the returned to their regular lives.

This film wasn't horrible, but I definitely wouldn't recommend it.  I'd say, watch Signs.  It has a similar concept, but with a much better depth of character and storyline.  

Shyamalan needs a new bag of tricks, because right now he's jumping without a parachute. 

One Friend's Dream is Another Friend's Nightmare

Julia Roberts stars as Julianne Moore, a quirky, job-obsessed food critic in the 1997 romantic comedy My Best Friend's Wedding.  

Julianne is surprised to get an unexpected phone call from her best friend Michael, (Dermot Mulroney) begging her to come to his spontaneous wedding to a billionaire's daughter, Kimmy Wallace (Cameron Diaz).  

The phone call comes just weeks before an agreed upon date at which if they were both still single, they would marry each other.

Michael and Julianne have been friends for years, but its not until he is taken that she realizes she wants him to be hers, and will do anything to get him back.

With the help of her editor/gay best friend George, (Rupert Everett) Julianne tries all kinds of horrible ploys to break the couple apart.

It's not until she pretends to be engaged to George that Michael comes to the realization that he ever had feelings for Julianne.  

When it comes down to the wire, Julianne gives up the act.  She goes to Michael, tells the truth (for once) and spills the beans that she has not ever been with George, and has secretly wanted Michael all along.  She pleads with him to "Pick me. Let me make you happy."  At this moment, she kisses Michael, as the camera pans back to reveal Kimmy watching the entire scene unfold.

This leads to a chase around Chicago, as Michael chases Kimmy and Julianne chases Michael, its not until George points out "Who's chasing you? Nobody." that she realizes Michael doesn't love her.  

She learns to let go as she helps to reunite the once happy couple.  Even though it doesn't turn out how she wanted, Julianne ends up happy.  Proving that not every happy ending has to be a fairy tale ending.

I really like the unique-ness of this movie.  It's an original screenplay that takes romantic comedies to new heights of storyline and humor.

Julia Roberts is amazing not only with her witty comedic timing, but also with her physical humor (watch the movie, you'll see why).

We've all been in situations of jealousy, and this movie helps us to grow up and learn to let go.  As the old saying goes, "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you'll get what you need."

'Untraceable' is Unwatchable

Gregory Hoblit's 2008 crime-thriller Untraceable wasn't all that thrilling. 

I'll come right out and say it: I didn't just not care for it, I hated it.  I wasn't even mildly entertained; I felt I was taken prisoner by this awful excuse of a film.

The movie stars Diane Lane as Jennifer Marsh, a secret agent who relentlessly studies cyber crime.  She gets sucked into a chain of murders on a killer's creepy website (killwithme.com) who murders his victims live through excruciating acts of violence.  The more people who log onto the website, the quicker the victim dies.  

It soon gets personal as Jennifer's friend and fellow agent gets killed.  She then feels it to be her personal agenda to find the killer.

The movie has a few killings which are horribly gruesome to watch.  Yet, the film has absolutely no plot. There are killings. Jennifer finds him. He tries to kill her and fails.  She kills him instead.

The movie is quite anti-climactic and dull.  

Instead of coming up with a storyline, the writers (Robert Fyvolent and Mark Brinker) relied upon disturbingly visual murders to (I suppose) keep the viewer interested?  

Well, it didn't work.  This movie has no substance, and was incredibly disappointing. Two thumbs down, way down.  

I expected more from Diane Lane, who usually does pretty respectable work.  And also from Hoblit, who directed 2000's highly thrilling Frequency.

Needless to say, don't rent it.  It's 101 minutes I'll never get back, and would like to keep you from losing.

Little Miss Breslin Steals the Show

What happens when you combine an over-demanding father, burnt out mother, mute-by choice son, pervertedly vulgar grandpa, suicidal uncle, and a seven year-old pageant queen? Dysfunctionality at its finest. That's right, its Little Miss Sunshine! 

Its the making of greatness.  This quirky yet lovable 2006 film was a hit.  Its perfection comes in the imperfections of the characters within Michael Arndt's brilliant script.

Abigail Breslin stars as Olive Hoover, a seven year old who inadvertently wins a beauty pageant after the winner backs out.  Her family desperately wants to help her achieve her dream of winning at the "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant in California, but are hindered by many problems along the way (mental, emotional, physical, and even problems with their vehicle).

It seems like all the cards are against them, as the brother has an emotional breakdown, the car falls apart, and the Grandpa (who taught Olive everything she knew about pageants)even ends up dying along the way!  But, up against the odds, the family will not let Olive miss her shining moment.

Battling hospital personnel, police men, and (scariest of all) pageant moms, the family is successful in getting Olive to the pageant.  They learn that despite their problems, they love each other.  They are all strange oddballs, but that's what unites them, keeping them different from the rest of the world.  

A hilarious scene is when Olive first takes the stage to perform her talent.  She says, "I'd like to dedicate this to my grandpa, who showed me these moves."  The emcee is emotionally captured by Olive, asking her where her grandpa is right now, to which she replies: "In the trunk of our car."

This film is humorous, and will capture your heart.  Breslin is adorable as little Olive Hoover, and definitely has a bright career in her future.  (She's been seen in Signs, No Reservations, Definitely Maybe, and will soon be starring in Kit Kittridge: An American Girl later this year).

For more funny Sunshine quotes, click here!